🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump’s most recent warning to introduce an further 100% tariff on Chinese goods has been called a “typical example” of American hypocrisy, per the Chinese government.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson also stated that China could implement its own undisclosed “responsive actions” if the American leader executes his warning, noting that the country was “unafraid” of a possible trade conflict.

On Friday, the former president retaliated at Beijing’s move to strengthen its regulations for overseas sales of critical elements, charging China of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the international market “under its control”.

Furthermore, he vowed to pull out of a scheduled summit with Beijing’s head of state President Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea before the month ends.

Trump’s comments on that day shook global markets, with the S&P 500 share index closing down 2.7%, marking its largest decline since last spring.

His comments renewed fears of a trade conflict between the United States and China.

In May, the respective governments had consented to remove high import duties on each other’s products, which had created the possibility of trade halting between the economic powers.

As a result, United States levies on Chinese imports incurring an additional thirty percent tariff compared with the year’s onset, while items from the United States entering the Chinese market face a import levy.

The most recent comments from China – published by the relevant government department in the form of written responses to journalist’s questions – echoed rhetoric from the height of the latest commercial tensions.

They criticised American limits on exports on semiconductors and chips while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to ensure domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative remarked that for “many years”, the US had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused foreign shipment regulations and “adopted discriminatory practices against China.

“Turning to” trade levy ultimatums is not the right way to engage with China,” the spokesperson commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a trade conflict has always been consistent: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”

The previous week, the Chinese government revealed it was reinforcing export controls on rare earths and other materials critical for high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the country refines about the vast majority of the global rare earth supply, which are utilized in products such as solar panels and smartphones.

The recent comments from both governments are being seen by some as a strategy of bolstering negotiating stances ahead of upcoming negotiations.

Is not yet known whether a meeting between the former president and China’s leader, planned at a summit in Seoul before month’s end, will go ahead.